mjtomlin

Vermelho said:

Although I understand that pro & max versions of M1 will maintain an edge over “vanilla” M2, if I were Mac marketing I would want to avoid the confusion and try to not introduce new M1 pro/max models AFTER the introduction of first M2.
 I'm also hoping that the larger iMac is not limited to a pricy “pro” version.  I don’t mind the nomenclature, but I want this form factor with a solid edge over M1 24” and under $3k. I suspect there are many with me.
Although the development time from M1 intro to the pro/max was significant, I expect this release time for the expanded versions of M base will be closer in the future, and keep generational developments and model lineups cleaner moving forward.

The M1 is the “transitional” SoC. I don’t think we’ll see an M2 until all M1 variants have at least been announced. M1 Ultra this Summer in the iMac Pro. M1 Extreme announced this Summer and released in the Mac Pro in the Fall.

The “normal” 27” iMac will use the M1 Pro and Max. It will not be a “Pro” system.

Here’s what I think the release timeline might be…

Summer 2022, M1 Ultra
Fall 2022, M2, M1 Extreme
Spring 2023, M2 Pro/Max
Fall 2023, M3
Summer 2024 M2 Ultra/Extreme
Fall 2024, M4
Spring 2025, M4 Pro/Max
Fall 2025, M5
Summer 2026 M4 Ultra/Extreme
etc…

Anilu_777 said:

Vermelho said:

Although I understand that pro & max versions of M1 will maintain an edge over “vanilla” M2, if I were Mac marketing I would want to avoid the confusion and try to not introduce new M1 pro/max models AFTER the introduction of first M2.
 I'm also hoping that the larger iMac is not limited to a pricy “pro” version.  I don’t mind the nomenclature, but I want this form factor with a solid edge over M1 24” and under $3k. I suspect there are many with me.
Although the development time from M1 intro to the pro/max was significant, I expect this release time for the expanded versions of M base will be closer in the future, and keep generational developments and model lineups cleaner moving forward.

This M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M2 lineup is confusing. Will the M2 be more or less powerful than the M1 Pro/Max or what will be the difference between them?

It won’t be confusing. People don’t buy M1 Pro or an M2, they buy a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro… to a consumer the product will define the performance not the SoC.

blastdoor said:

cg27 said:

Come on guys, on what basis?  Being too successful in terms of running the business astutely and thus having high margins/profits?

I mostly agree.

Maybe they pass a law that makes it harder for companies above a given size to acquire other companies. That could slow growth, because you have to build up from within rather than buy. But longer term, building up from within might be better anyway. So maybe growth is slower but more enduring. 

Most of Apple's acquisitions were made to help enhance their products and ecosystem. Rarely are they ever made to overtake or increase their share of a market. Which is why I don't understand how they are lumped in with companies that have; Google, Microsoft snd Facebook.

lkrupp said:

Not going to happen. Apple will be broken up into little pieces by regulators all over the globe. They’ve gotten too big for the politicians to tolerate. 

The only divisions that I can see being "broken off" is services and applications (to make competing on Apple's own platforms more "fair"). At which point most other "platform" companies would have to follow suit, because laws cannot single out a company unless it is considered a monopoly in its respective market... You can't just break up Apple, because they've gotten too big or make too much money. Companies are broken up when it is determined that the market cannot sustain fair competition when there's one company that can control that market and influence other markets due to its size and share of that market. Two of the largest examples are Standard Oil and AT&T. Two other companies that come to mind, but were never broken up are IBM and Microsoft. Both of which had a stranglehold on their respective markets. Microsoft snuck in under the radar and stole IBM's thunder and the mobile market basically killed off Microsoft's dominance.

If M2 is based off A15 generation cores then that means Macs will end up being a couple of generations behind the iOS devices, and I don’t see that happening. The M1 was released with the A14 and they shared the same cores.. The M2 will more than likely be released in the Fall (regardless of what rumors say) alongside the A16 and they will also share the same cores.

The base M-series SoCs are basically the same as the “X” variant of the A-series and these can be produced relatively cheap enough for a yearly update, especially since they’re used by the iPad Pros plus all consumer level Macs. The “pro” M-series SoCs are a different beast and are probably very expensive to produce, so Apple will want to stretch out their run a couple of years to bring down costs.